Disenchantment

:

Season 1
  • Network: Netflix
  • Series Premiere Date: Aug 17, 2018
Season #: 5, 4, 3, 2, 1
User Score
6.7

Generally favorable reviews- based on 257 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 164 out of 257
  2. Mixed: 43 out of 257
  3. Negative: 50 out of 257

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User Reviews

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  1. duddy5698
    Sep 1, 2018
    6
    Disenchantment could be so much better. I still enjoyed it, though. Very hit and miss. It is very generic. Disenchantment is a giggle show. I never laughed out loud, but I never cringed. It gets better as it goes along. There are just so many better shows to watch.
  2. erolsabadosh
    Aug 18, 2018
    6
    I'm only a few episodes in but I'm already fairly disappointed by the lack of humor; the show hasn't really made me laugh out loud much and that's a big problem. Yes The Simpsons started off a little shaky but it was still funny and had well thought out storylines. Disenchantment feels like a lesser Futurama clone; all of the characters remind me of previous Groening creations to the pointI'm only a few episodes in but I'm already fairly disappointed by the lack of humor; the show hasn't really made me laugh out loud much and that's a big problem. Yes The Simpsons started off a little shaky but it was still funny and had well thought out storylines. Disenchantment feels like a lesser Futurama clone; all of the characters remind me of previous Groening creations to the point where it feels way too familiar but without the strengths (Bean is more or less Leela, Elfo is Fry, the demon is Bender, the grandfather wizard dude is Professor Farnsworth, the dad is Scruffy as a King etc). Honestly there really isn't an excuse for this not being funny, Groening has the experience under his belt but it feels oddly lazy in some places and then really full of effort in others; the biggest problem is the writing and that's a glaring issue for a comedy fantasy series. Hopefully it'll pick up but judging by the flatness of it I just don't see this lasting unless they get a whole new writing team to save it.… Expand
  3. Scraper
    Aug 20, 2018
    4
    A show badly in need of a re-write. It's bogged down by a slow rhythm. The characters are constantly explaining their next moves and motives. I think they were in love with the medieval concept and then tried to write around it. Too bad. I'm a huge Groening fan in general.
  4. GamerJosh0137
    Aug 20, 2018
    4
    I REALLY wanted to love this show. Considering my childhood in the early 90's consisted of watching the clock, waiting for the next simpsons episodes to air I was hoping to get that same sense of excitement from Disenchantment. Especially considering Groening wouldn't be bound by the same ridiculous network guidelines on Netflix. Instead what I got was a humorless slog of a show.I REALLY wanted to love this show. Considering my childhood in the early 90's consisted of watching the clock, waiting for the next simpsons episodes to air I was hoping to get that same sense of excitement from Disenchantment. Especially considering Groening wouldn't be bound by the same ridiculous network guidelines on Netflix. Instead what I got was a humorless slog of a show. After season 1 I honestly can't remember any time that I legitimately laughed if I did at all. Most of the funny punchlines come from characters you only see in opening scenes, or from background characters that have nothing to do with anything. The main cast of characters is the worst part about the show. Bean is the Princess, and supposedly this alcoholic problem child, Elfo is the happy go lucky elf who just wants to be miserable away from his happy village of elves, and the Demon (I can't even remember his name or if he has one at all) who plays devil's advocate in Bean's rational. All in all Disenchantment for me is a forgettable show with an even more forgettable cast, where the good jokes are few and far between. I'm just going to watch re-runs of Rick and Morty. Maybe one day Matt Groening will return as a television sitcom legend, but Disenchantment won't help him fulfill that role this time.… Expand
  5. kuehnau
    Aug 18, 2018
    6
    I wouldn't say this is a bad cartoon by any means, but it does feel overly generic, there were plenty of jokes, but most of them barely managed to get a smirk out of me.

    The story itself is a little interesting, but they take the entire season to really get to the meat of it and then when they do, they end the season on a cliff hanger. Why do that? If the cartoon was good, it'd get    I wouldn't say this is a bad cartoon by any means, but it does feel overly generic, there were plenty of jokes, but most of them barely managed to get a smirk out of me.

    The story itself is a little interesting, but they take the entire season to really get to the meat of it and then when they do, they end the season on a cliff hanger. Why do that? If the cartoon was good, it'd get another season and if it failed, at least it wouldn't have been left unresolved.

    They could have easily take the entire season to wrap up this story, but instead they decided to put in a bunch of filler episodes that don't really lend to the overall story in any sort of meaningful way.

    I know a lot of times, it takes a show a few seasons to really fall into their groove, but at this point, I really wonder if Disenchantment is going to get the opportunity to even do so?    … Expand
  6. GrumpyReviewer
    Aug 20, 2018
    5
    I did not hate DISENCHANTMENT. I did not love it either. I was expecting so much more though...

    The Simpsons and Futurama are timeless masterpieces. I love those characters so much. It's like I know them, I connect with them, their stories. I have laughed AND cried with both Simpsons and Futurama more times than I have the courage to admit. And I honestly think Matt Groening is a    I did not hate DISENCHANTMENT. I did not love it either. I was expecting so much more though...

    The Simpsons and Futurama are timeless masterpieces. I love those characters so much. It's like I know them, I connect with them, their stories. I have laughed AND cried with both Simpsons and Futurama more times than I have the courage to admit. And I honestly think Matt Groening is a genius.

    So when Netlix announced DISENCHANTMENT, I was extremely hyped and excited. But.. as soon as I realized I could barely finish one 20 minute episode, I knew something was really wrong. And That made me so sad and disappointed. Because the show SCREAMS potential. Bean, Elfo, Luci, even the rest of the cast in the city/castle can do so much more. I mean SO MUCH MORE.

    The dialogue is not funny. At all. There is almost no character development. The jokes miss the mark 95% of time. Sometimes it's a pain to watch... and I kept pausing the episodes to watch them later because I was almost falling asleep half of the time.

    But here is the thing: I blame the writing, really. Because the art style is beautiful. So is the direction and soundtrack. DISENCHANTMENT is, actually, pretty and charming. I WANT to love those characters. But the lazy writing won't allow it. The lazy writing is throwing this show, which is filled with potential, into the dumpster.

    Please, PLEASE, P-L-E-A-S-E fix the writing. Bring other/better people to write the story and this show will be saved. Right now, DISENCHANTMENT is a complete mess. And it pains me to say that.    … Expand
  7. bulger_paul
    Aug 18, 2018
    5
    I'm very in the middle on this. I've seen quite a bit of Futurama, and a few episodes here and there of the Simpsons, and I liked them both, though I was never a hardcore fan, and I hadn't even heard of Disenchantment until the day it came out and I saw it at the top of the Netflix homescreen banner, so it's not like I was looking forward to this for long enough to be particularlyI'm very in the middle on this. I've seen quite a bit of Futurama, and a few episodes here and there of the Simpsons, and I liked them both, though I was never a hardcore fan, and I hadn't even heard of Disenchantment until the day it came out and I saw it at the top of the Netflix homescreen banner, so it's not like I was looking forward to this for long enough to be particularly disappointed by it, so to me so far, it's a rather "meh" series.

    There's at least a few witty moments per episode, it's just that the pacing is bizarre, and jokes that rely upon precisely timed edits fall flat, because there's something bizarre about the editing here. It feels as though edits happen just a few counts late, and jokes that might have been very funny don't exactly stick, because they don't feel timed properly.

    I also don't like how safe this all feels. I know The Simpsons was highly regarded, because, during at least its first ten years on the air, it was always pissing off the right groups, such as various religious groups and all the mom groups, etc. So I would expect a new series from the creator of The Simpsons to have a little more edge to it than this. Sure, there's some more jokes poking fun at religious people and at sexual politics, but it's all fairly toothless stuff.

    I'll stick around for a few episodes when season 2 comes out, but if it doesn't get any better than this, I'll mark this off as a simple misfire. Groening caught lightning in a bottle twice already, everything he does doesn't have to be a modern classic.    … Expand
  8. chesaro
    Aug 18, 2018
    4
    Groening did it almos perfect storytelling for futurama (yes, the simpsons way wouldn't work for this), and yet, he couldn't even keep the basics for this one, i don't know what the hell happened to him, but this is plain bad, boring, the music is not very good, the character lack a lot of personality, i was hoping this was going to be great, and the disappointment hit me right in the face
  9. toonvailo
    Aug 20, 2018
    5
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. Abstract:
    Disenchantment as the latest project from the Simpsons and Futurama create Matt Groening is disenchanting to put it on the nose. While this series definitely stands out from his previous works, it fails to be memorable. A promising show with lots of characters and world to explore, already slated for a second season on Netflix, I hope we get more depth out of it.

    Review:
    First and foremost if you are worried this will be a duplicate the Simpsons with a Bart-esque looking troll, or an extended rendition of “Bender’s Game” from Futurama, you may rest at ease. It is definitely not like either previous work from Groening. That being said, I am personally disappointed that is nothing like his previous work. The fantasy show walks a wide line between comedy and trying to be serious failing to be neither.
    The season sets up with Princess “Bean” facing a cruel fate, a royal marriage. Try as she might she simply cannot escape it, until the wedding itself becomes so inconvenient that King Zøg simply calls it off. That’s it. The main premise and highlights pointed out in the trailers are resolved after 2 episodes. This leaves Bean to focus on being drunk, unruly, and an overall very unlady like princess; a point which really seems to be hammered at the audience again and again. If there were a trope opposite of a Mary Sue, it would be a Princess Bean, as we are reminded time and time again that she is good at nothing.
    A slightly more interesting plot arises in the form of Luci the Demon. While the character himself is nothing more than a devil on your shoulder, he is “gifted” to Bean on her first wedding day by two mysterious people, who watch the plot unfold via magical fire. Sadly after episode three they by and large receive little screen time and are all but forgotten about. Luci is exercised, but Bean and Elfo agree the group isn’t as fun without, and so rescue him and hundreds of other demons from their volcano-y fate. Luci almost serves less as a bad influence and more as a reason for the plot to advance as he’s there to fill in awkward silences and to reveal plot devices the other characters missed.
    Least interesting of all is Elfo the Elf, He is hunted and nearly exsanguinated for his magical Elf blood in the pilot, that King Zøg might obtain the Elixir of Life, only for the King to nearly forget about it soon after. The character’s main motivation then becomes dancing around his awkward friend-zoned crush on Bean.
    Episodes 4-7 try to expand the realm that we find ourselves in featuring characters and plots that don’t really seem to matter. We are introduced to the Which Gwen whom doesn’t gather much attention but who owns a copy of a cookbook which might yield the Elixir of Life! We are introduced to the Dankmire kingdom where King Zøg’s current queen Queen Oona comes from. We learn that giants are rampaging monsters and the castle seems to have an alchemy parlor.
    But it isn’t until the end of the season that we seem to return to any semblance of plot. It seems with some regularity Elfo has had his blood taken, but in smaller less deadly volumes. And now the King may finally gain immortality with just a mere drop of Elf blood. Quickly over two episodes we find a lost city to obtain an amulet and reveal their terrible statuesque fate, we learn that Princess Bean’s Mother, Queen Dagmar, is not dead but herself a statue (the victim of an assassination plot on the King gone wrong!) These are interesting turns of a events that would’ve been used better to pad out the season including the finale. At last we have a motivation for the King’s obsession with immortality, we know now why he has been so cold and distant with his daughter.
    Now in a comedy do we actually need motivation and plot and reason? Possibly no, but I say that to highlight this next point. The show just isn’t that funny. It lacks the wit of Futurama and the zany antics of the Simpsons. I could only see about half the sight gags, and what I could see were light chuckles at best. When the humor falls flat the show needs something else to stand on. I would’ve loved for this to have been a more serious show with occasional humor, but it’s not. If you’re looking for something to just binge this weekend on Netflix while you fold laundry or wash the dishes this will do the trick, because you won’t miss much only paying half attention. Here’s hoping Season 2 gives this cartoon some depth.    … Expand
  10. Atzilla
    Sep 25, 2018
    4
    So okay, it's average.
    You wont hate every second you watch this.
    You will chuckle once or twice in a better episode.
    You will neither care about the story nor the characters.

    Nothing remarkable about this series.
    General writing and timing of jokes are subpar.

    Sadly, a wasted opportunity.
  11. OlivierPiel
    Aug 19, 2018
    6
    a fun satiric fable that is an obvious nod to Voltaire's Candide or Swift's Gulliver's travels but makes fun of the present sociall ills of America. Certainly wastes too much time in unnecessary side quests, but it is not as bad as pundits claim it to be. It is actually far better than the usual Netflix fare.
  12. Smirk
    Aug 20, 2018
    5
    I was a great fan of the Simpsons and really enjoyed Futurama, Why is it that I'm not impressed with Disenchantment? Perhaps I was hoping for similar satire, mockery of well trodden fantasy tropes, or just a better level of humour?
  13. JPK
    Aug 19, 2018
    6
    Off To An Okay Start
    Things May Not Be Perfect Now, But Like Bojack Horseman And Bob’s Burgers, I Think This Will Get Better As Time Goes On.
  14. hopefulcynic
    Oct 20, 2018
    5
    Made by Matt Groening (known for The Simpsons and Futurama) this show is painfully average. It's not a bad show, but it's not good either. The biggest problem is it's lack of likable characters. The Simpsons and Futurama were built around the characters. Sure the episodes had plots, but you tuned in for the characters and how they interact with each other. This show boils down to Eflo=dumbMade by Matt Groening (known for The Simpsons and Futurama) this show is painfully average. It's not a bad show, but it's not good either. The biggest problem is it's lack of likable characters. The Simpsons and Futurama were built around the characters. Sure the episodes had plots, but you tuned in for the characters and how they interact with each other. This show boils down to Eflo=dumb and naive, the demon's evil and a bad influence, Bean is a rebellious alcoholic, and the king is dumb and yells a lot.

    That's about as developed as the characters get. As far as the plot and story telling, well, it's mediocre at best. The things that happen in the episodes have no consequence, but that's kind of how these types of cartoons are. The first two episodes had a couple witch looking mofos watching Bean in a crystal ball talking about how the demon is working and so is their plan and whatnot. I don't know what happened to that because I'm at like episode 9 and that hasn't been brought up again (I'm sure the show will revisit that eventually). Basically it's not a bad show, but there's not a single memorable thing to it. It's nice to watch an episode then leave it on to fall asleep to.    … Expand
  15. Tuneison
    Aug 26, 2018
    5
    You know, I'm glad this series supports and represents many different groups. For example, like how children wrote the jokes and blind people picked the storylines at random from a "Cliché Fantasy Storytelling Lottery". It's decisions like those that make this an exceptional and outstanding show that isn't completely dumb and devoid of originality.
  16. KaiserGuy
    Nov 10, 2018
    4
    Tired predictable jokes, tediously awkward comedic timing. Uninspired and not engaging. 5 and a half episodes in and I'm not going to miss it. Loved Futurama and the Simpsons. No magic here.
  17. geewah
    Jan 9, 2021
    5
    Disappointing. Groening's third project for TV lacks the wit and edginess of his predecessors.

Awards & Rankings

9
#9 Most Discussed TV Season of 2018
15
#15 Most Shared TV Season of 2018

Critic Reviews

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Metascore
56

Mixed or average reviews - based on 27 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 6 out of 27
  2. Mixed: 20 out of 27
  3. Negative: 1 out of 27
  1. Reason.com
    Reviewed by: Glenn Garvin
    Sep 22, 2018
    70
    If The Simpsons and Futurama are PG-13 shows, Disenchantment is maybe PG-14, ever-so-slightly sexier and bloodier. Like the other shows, its jokes are more suggestive than bawdy.
    Read full review
  2. IndieWire
    Reviewed by: Ben Travers
    Aug 17, 2018
    58
    In the last three episodes, Disenchantment embraces its story in a way that makes for easy viewing--there’s still nothing revolutionary here, and much of the comedy is still too stagnant, but it’s a far more effective fairy tale.
    Read full review
  3. The Atlantic
    Reviewed by: Sophie Gilbert
    Aug 17, 2018
    50
    Disenchantment just feels full of potential that it hasn’t yet figured out. That’s maybe because it stays very much in safe territory.
    Read full review
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